Machine and method for making containers for comestibles



y 1958 w E DENISON 2,841,055

MACHINE AND ME'THCSD FOR MAKING CONTAINERS Original Filed May 19. 1954 FOR COMESTIBLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1, 1958 w. E. DENISON 2,841,055

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR MAKING CONTAINERS FOR COMESTIBLES Original Filed May 19, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O MACHINE AND METHOD FOR MAKING CONTAINERS FOR COMESTIBLES William E. Denison, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Ruby Whitney, Chicago, Ill.

Continuation of application Serial No. 430,884, May 19, 1954. This application June 20, 1955, Serial No. 516,367

18 Claims. (Cl. 93-1) My invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for forming containers, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for forming a container for comestibles as shown in Whitney Design Patent 166,894, issued May 27, 1952.

This application is a continuation of my co-pending application Serial No. 430,884, filed May 19, 1954, now abandoned.

Structure according to the aforementioned Design Patent have heretofore been made in fabric materials but the cost has prohibited their use in restaurants or as throw-away novelty items for home use.

It is a principal object of my invention to provide a method and apparatus for making containers of the above identified sort in a more rapid and satisfactory manner than has been possible heretofore.

Another object is to afiord a simple apparatus for making devices of the sort described, either in a group of seriatim steps at one station, or by a group of steps each taking place at one of several stations.

Other objects and important features of the invention will be apparent from a study of the following specification taken with the drawings, which together illustrate a preferred embodiment of apparatus according to the present invention, and also preferred apparatus for carrying out the method thereof. Other embodiments of the invention, both for apparatus and for carrying out the method herein, may be suggested to those having the benefit of the teachings herein, and it is therefore intended that the scope of the invention not be limited by the disclosure herein, and only as by the subjoined claims and equivalent structures thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of apparatus according to the present invention, and illustrating how the method of the present invention may be carried out;

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing one of the steps for forming a container for comestibles as described herein;

Fig. 3 illustrates the completion of another step performed by the apparatus of the present invention, said step following the step shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 illustrates another step according to the method of the present invention, said step following the step shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 illustrates a step following that of Fig. 4, and showing how the material which is joined together in the steps of the method of the present invention will appear after the completion of the steps of Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive.

Fig. 6 illustrates the shape which the container of the present invention will take after the completion of the steps shown in Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a container formed by the method and apparatus of the present invention, and showing its appearance after being filled with articles of food or the like; and I Fig. 8 is a vertical cross section view through an alternate form of apparatus for carrying on the method of the present invention.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the apparatus according to the present invention and employed in carrying out the method thereof is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. It includes a base or pedestal 11 upon which is mounted a support 12 generally of a circular configuration to receive a blank of sheet material 13 as seen in Fig. 2.

According to the present invention, the blank 13 is placed upon the support 12 and is located properly between locating pins 14, 14 projecting upward from the support 12. The circular piece of material 13, which may preferably be made of a soft paper, such as crepe paper or the like, is arranged to have placed thereon radially extending glue lines 16, by means which will be presently described, and to have superimposed thereon after the application of such glue lines a similar such blank of material 17, as seen in Figs. 4 and 5, so that the sheets of material will be glued together to define substantially wedge-shaped pockets 15, see also Figs.

' 4 and 6.

Means are provided for placing the radially extending glue lines 16, 16 of Fig. 3 upon the blank 13, and to this end there is provided a vertical arbor 18 having extending therefrom a horizontal arm 19. A spider assembly, indicated generally by the reference numeral 20, is arranged to have limited rotative movement with respect to the arm 19 in and end bearing 21 thereof, and includes a plate 22 having radially extending arms 23 therefrom. Limited rotation of the spider assembly 20 with respect to the arm 19 is had by means of a hand wheel 24 which has preferably a pair of indexing positions for a purpose as will appear.

The hand wheel 24 forms a means whereby the arm 19 may be swung about the vertical arbor 18, in such a fashion as to pass over an adhesive roller 26 which receives a coating of adhesive from a roller 27, rotating in a reservoir 28 for a liquid adhesive. The two rollers, 26 and 27 are respectively mounted on shafts 26a and 27a supported in end Walls 29 and 31 of the reservoir 28. The two rolls 26 and 27 are driven by a motor 32 mounted on the base 11. The motor 32 drives a worm wheel 33 mounted on the shaft 27a and gears 34 and 36 turn the roll 26 in spaced relationship to the roll 27 to control the thickness of a film of adhesive on the roll 26.

Prior to swinging the arm 19 about the vertical arbor 18 a blank 13 is placed in position upon the support 12, and is accurately located by the pins 14. The arm 19 is then swung about the vertical arbor 18 in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 1, so that the spider arms 23 receive a film of adhesive from the roller 26. The arm 19 and the spider 20 is then moved to position over the blank 13. A solenoid 39 is arranged to be energized by a control switch 37 to move the arm 19 together with the spider 20 downward against the blank 13 to apply thereto radially extending glue lines 16, 16, as seen in Fig. 3. A suitable stop, not shown, is provided, so that the arm 19 can be rotated only to a proper position with reference to the support 12 and blank 13.

At the completion of this operation the arm 19 is released by de-energizing the solenoid 39, and the arm 19 together with the spider 22 is arranged to move in a counterclockwise direction past the top-most glue roller 26 to apply an additional coating to the underside of the radially extending arms 23. After moving the arm 19 to the position once more as seen in Fig. l a second blank 17 is placed upon the already glued blank 13, as seen more particularly in Fig. 4. By so doing the blank 17 is glued to the blank 12 along the radial glue lines 16, forming between such glue lines wedgeshaped pockets as seen in Figs. 4 and 5.

Such placing of the blank 17 upon the blank 13 is done at the support 12', and after the two blanks 13 and 17 are thus glued together, the arm 19 and spider 20 are swung in a clockwise direction once more to receive a film of adhesive on the arms 23. However, the spider 2G is indexed to a position by turning the handle 24 through an angle preferably equal to onehalf the angle between adjacent arms 23. The solenoid 39 is energized once more after the spider 2t) and arm 19 are position over the blank 17, so that glue lines 41, 41 are placed upon the blank 17 as seen in Fig. 4. At the completion of such operation as seen in Fig. 4 a third blank 42 is placed upon the blank 17, until a structure is provided as seen in Fig. 5. The gluing of blank 42 to blank 17 thus forms a plurality of essentially wedge-shaped pockets 40 between the glue lines 41 as seen in Figs. 5 and 6.

The apparatus seen in Fig. 1 also includes means for providing a pair of spaced glue points upon the partially finished article seen in Fig. 5. To this end the support 11 is provided with a glue reservoir 43, having a pair of spaced upstanding glue metering devices 45, 45. These terminate at the upper ends thereof in small valves a which meter a suitably quantity of glue to the topmost blank 42 as seen in Fig. 5.

These glue points are placed upon the top-most blank 42 as at 44, and they are preferably disposed as to be located 90 apart between adjacent glue lines 23 and 42, and only upon one-half portion of the top most blank 42, as seen in Fig. 5.

After disposing the glue points 44, 44 as seen in Fig. 5, the completed blanks seen therein are folded over along a diameter common to the glue line 41, 41 seen in Fig. 4 and parallel to the glue points 44.

The article thus far described is completed in its assembly and is in a flat, folded-over condition for shipment with a minimum of space required therefor. When it is desired to open the container for use in holding breads or similar comestibles it is opened up to a position as seen in Figs. 6 and 7. As seen in Figs. 6 and 7 there is thus afforded a multi-pocket container presenting a pleasing and ornamental appearance similar to that shown in the aforesaid Whitney Design Patent.

Referring now to Fig. 8 of the drawings, there is shown another form of the apparatus for carrying out the method of this invention. In this form, the structure of Fig. 6 is assembled by heat sealing of sheets of material together along radially extending lines in a manner similar to Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive. The sheets 13, 16 and 42 may be coated with regenerated ceilulosic material, polyethylene or similar heat sealing thermoplastic material. Alternately the sheet material may be made of such material, and are sealed together along such radially extending lines to provide the wedge-shaped pockets 15 and 40.

In such alternate form of apparatus the glue reservoir 28 is dispensed with. Referring now to Fig. 8 of the drawings, each spider arm 23 contains a heating element 46' which is insulated from the arm 23 by means of ceramic insulating material 47. Such ceramic insulating material 47 may be incased within a heat conducting tube 48, the entire assembly described being held .within a bore 49 within each radially extending arm 23. As seen in Fig. 7 each arm 23 may be enclosed by a sleeve 51 of suitable insulating material which serves to direct the heat to a surface 50 of the arm 23.

Each spider arm 23 is arranged to cause sealing contact between two sheets of such coated material 52 and 53 in the manner described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive. The heat is localized to such an extent as to cause sealing contact only along the radial lines 41 between sheets 42 and 17, and not into the "lowermost sheet 13.

In forming the container in this latter manner, instead of glue points, the material of top sheet 42 may be suitably heated at points 44 to melt the thermoplastic coating, whereupon the sheets may be folded along the diameter previously described to give a flat assembly as with the apparatus described in Figs. 1 and 5. Likewise in forming by this latter apparatus, the hand wheel 24 is arranged to be indexed to cause the lines 41 of heat sealing contact to be midway between the lines 16 of heat sealing contact. While the invention has been described with reference to apparatus which may be preferred, the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited by such apparatus and is intended to include also the method resulting from the use of the appparatus described. The scope of the invention is accordingly intended to be limited only by the claims here appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. Apparatus of the class described for making a multipocket container for comestibles or the like comprising a support for a substantially circular blank of sheet material, a spider having radially extending arms including means for supporting said spider, said spider being arranged to adopt a first position with reference to said support to provide radially extending lines along which a pair of superimposed blanks are cemented together, means for indexing said spider to an angular position with reference to said support different from the first position thereof to provide radially extending lines of a different angular position than said first lines along which a third such blank superimposed on the second blank is cemented to the said second blank, means for moving said spider and said support relative to each other whereby said spider comes into contact with said blank sheets for cementing thereof, and means for rendering the surface of the outer one of said three blanks cementitious in character at a pair of spaced points thereon prior to folding all of the so treated blanks along a common diameter thereof with the said outer one of said blanks folded on itself and held together at said cementing points.

2. Apparatus of the class described for making a multipocket container for comestibles or the like comprising a support for a substantially circular blank of sheet material, a spider having radially extending arms including means for supporting said spider, said spider being arranged to adopt a first position with reference to said support to provide .radially extending lines along which a pair of superimposed blanks are cemented together, means for indexing said spider to an angular position with reference to said support different from the first position thereof to provide radially extending lines having a different angular position than said first lines along which a third such blank superimposed on the second blank is cemented to the said second blank, and means for rendering the surface of the outer one of said three blanks cementitious in character at a pair of spaced points thereon prior to foldi-ng all of the so treated blanks along a common diameter thereof with the said outer one of said blanks folded on itself and held together at said cementing points.

3. Apparatus of the class described for making a multipocket container for comestibles or the like comprising a support for a substantially circular blank of sheet material, a spider having radially extending arms including means for supporting said spider, said spider being ar-. ranged to adopt a first position with respect to said support to provide radially extending lines along which a pair of superimposed blanks are cemented together, and means for indexing said spider to an angularposition with respect to said support different from the first position thereof to provide radially extending lines having a different angular position than said first lines along which a third such blank superimposed on the second blank is cemented to the said second blank.

4. Apparatus of the class described for making a multipocket container for comestibles or the like comprising a support for a substantially circular blank of sheet material, a spider having radially extending arms including means for supporting said spider, means for applying adhesive to said arms, means for moving said spider and said support relative to each other into a first position relative to each other to transfer adhesive to said blank, said spider being shiftable to another position relative to said support for superimposing a second blank on to said first blank for gluing thereof to said first blank along radial lines as determined by said spider, means for indexing said spider relative to said support to an angular position different from the first position in connection with a second application of adhesive thereto so that upon transfer of adhesive to said second blank along radial lines angularly spaced from those applied to said first blank a' third blank may be superimposed on said second blank and glued thereto, and means for applying adhesive to the outer one of said three blanks at a pair of spaced points thereon prior to folding all of the so glued blanks along a common diameter thereof with the said outer one of said blanks folded on itself and held together at said points of adhesion.

5. Apparatus of the class described for making a multipocket container for comestibles or the like comprising a support for a substantially circular blank of sheet material, a spider having radially extending arms including means for supporting said spider, means for applying adhesive to said arms, said spider and said support being movable into a first position to transfer adheseive to said blank, said spider and said support being shiftable to a second position relative to each other for superimposing a second blank on to said first blank for adhesion thereof to said first blank along radial lines as determined by said spider, means for indexing said spider and said support relative to each other to an angular position different from the first position in connection with a second application of adhesive to said spider so that upon transfer of adhesive to said second blank along radial lines angularly spaced from those applied to said first blank a third blank may be superimposed on said second blank and caused to adhere thereto.

6. Apparatus of the class described for making a multipocket container for comestibles or the like comprising a support for a substantially circular blank of sheet material, a spider having radially extending arms including means for supporting said spider, the arms of said spider being arranged to adopt a first position relative to said support to provide radially extending lines of adhesive along which a pair of superimposed blanks are cemented together, means for indexing said spider to an angular position with reference to said support different from the first position thereof to provide radially extending lines of adhesive having a different angular position than said first lines along which a third such blank superimposed on the second blank is cemented to the said second blank, means for applying adhesive to said arms for transfer thereof to said blanks of material, and means for applying adhesive to the outer one of said blanks at a pair of spaced points thereon prior to folding all of the so cemented blanks along a common diameter thereof with the said outer one of said blanks folded on itself and held together by said points of adhesion.

7. Apparatus of the class dsecribed for making a multipocket container for comestibles or the like comprising a support for a substantially circular blank which is formed of thermoplastic material, a spider having radially extending arms including means for supporting said spider, said spider being arranged to adopt a first position to said support and being provided with heating means in the arms thereof to provide radially extending lines along which a pair of superimposed blanks are cemented to gether, means for indexing said spider to an angular position relative to said support different from the first position thereof to provide radially extending lines having a different angular position than said first'lines along which a third such blank superimposed on the second blank is cemented to the said second blank by the heating means of said arms, means for moving said spider and said support relative to each other whereby saidspider comes into contact with said blanks for cementing thereof, and means for rendering the surface of the outer one of said three blanks cementitious in character at a pair of spaced points thereon prior to folding all of the so cemented blanks along a common diameter thereof with the outer one of said blanks folded upon itself and held together at said cementing points.

8. Apparatus of the class described for making a multipocket container for comestibles or the like comprising a support for a substantially circular blank of sheet material, a spider having radially extending arms including means for supporting said spider, said spider being arranged to adopt a first position relative to said support and being provided with heating means in the arms thereof to provide radially extending lines along which a pair of superimposed blanks are cemented together, means for indexing said spider to an angular position relative to said support different from the first position thereof to provide radially extending lines having a different angular position than said first lines along which a third such blank superimposed on the second blank is cemented to the said second blank by the heating means of said arms, and means for rendering the surface of the outer one of said three blanks cementitious in character at a pair of spaced points thereon prior to folding all of the so cemented blanks along a common diameter thereof with the outer one of said blanks folded upon itself and hel together at said cementing points.

9. Apparatus of the class described for making a multipocket container for comestibles or the like comprising a r support for a substantially circular blank which is formed of thermoplastic material, a spider having radially extending arms including a support for said spider, said spider being arranged to adopt a first position relative to said support and being provided with heating means in the arms thereof to provide radially extending lines along which a pair of superimposed blanks are cemented together, and means for indexing said spider to an angular position relative to said support different from the first position thereof to provide radially extending lines having a different angular position than said first lines along which a third such blank superimposed on the second blank is cemented to the said second blank by the heating means of said arms.

10. A method for making a multi-pocket container for comestibles arranged to be shipped in flat condition, comprising cementing a pair of substantially circular superimposed blanks along radial lincs common thereto, and cementing a third blank superimposed upon said first two I blanks to the uppermost of said first blanks along radial lines common thereto and substantially bisecting the angles between the first named radial lines, applying cement to the outer one of said three blanks at spaced points thereon, and foldingsaid blanks upon themselves along a diameter. thereof with the said outer one of said blanks folded upon itself and held together at said cementing points.

11. A method for making a multi-pocket container for comestibles arranged to be shipped in fiat condition, comprising cementing a pair of substantially circular superimposed blanks along radial lines common thereto, and cementing a third blank superimposed upon said first two blanks to the uppermost of said first blanks along radial lines common thereto and substantially bisecting the angles between the first named radial lines.

12. Apparatus of the class described for making a multi-pocket container for comestibles or the like comprising a support for a substantially circular blank of sheet material, a spider having radially extending arms including means for supporting said spider, said spider being arranged to provide radially extending lines along which a pair of superimposed blanks are cemented together, means for indexing said spider and said first named support relative to each other to provide radially extending lines different'from said first mentioned radially extending lines along which a third such blank superimposed on the second blank is cemented to the said second blank, means for moving said spider and said support relative to each other whereby said spider comes into contact with said sheets for cementing thereof, and means for rendering the surface of the outer one of said three blanks cementitious in character at a pair of spaced points thereon prior to folding all of the so treated blanks along a common diameter thereof with the said outer one of said blanks folded on itself and held together at said cementing points.

13. Apparatus of the class described for making a multi-pocket container for comestibles or the like comprising a support for a substantially circular blank of sheet material, a spider having radially extending arms including means for supporting said spider, said spider being arranged to provide radially extending lines along which a pair of superimposed blanks are cemented together, means for indexing said spider and said first named support relative to each other to provide radially extending lines different from said first mentioned radially extending lines along which a third such blank superimposed on the second blank is cemented to the said second blank, and means for rendering the surface of the outer one of said three blanks cementitious in character at a pair of spaced points thereon prior to folding all of the so treated blanks along a common diameter thereof with the said outer one of said blanks folded on itself and held together at said cementing points.

14. Apparatus of the class described for making a multi-pocket container for comestibles or the like comprising a support for a substantially circular blank of sheet material, a spider having radially extending arms including means for supporting said spider, said spider being arranged to provide radially extending lines along which a pair of superimposed blanks are cemented together, and means for indexing said spider and said first named support relative to each other to provide radially extending lines different from said first mentioned radially extending lines along which a third such biank superimposed on the second blank is cemented to the said second blank.

15. Apparatus of the class described for making a multi-pocket container for comestibles or the like comprising a support for a substantially circular blank of sheet material, a spider having radially extending arms including means for supporting said spider, means for applying adhesive to said arms, the arms of said spider providing radially extending lines along which a pair of superimposed blanks are cemented together, means for indexing said spider and said first named support relative to each other in connection with a second application of adhesive to said arms so that upon transfer of adhesive to said second blank along radial lines angularly spaced from that applied to said first blank a third blank may be superimposed on said second blank and glued thereto, and means for applying adhesive to the outer one of said three blanks at a pair of spaced points thereon prior to folding all of the so glued blanks along a common diameter thereof with the said outer one of said blanks folded on itself and held together at said points of adhesion.

to. Apparatus of the class described for making a multi-pocket container for comestibles or the like comprising a support for a substantially circular blank of sheet material, a spider having radially extending arms including means for supporting said spider, means for applying adhesive to said arms, the arms of said spider providing radially extending lines along which a pair of superimposed blanks are cemented together, and means for indexing said spider and said first named support relative to each other in connection with a second application of adhesive to said arms so that upon transfer of adhesive to said second blank along radial lines angularly spaced from that applied to said first blank a third blank may be superimposed on said second blank and glued thereto. 7

17. Apparatus of the class described for making a multi-pocket container for comestibles or the like comprising a support for a substantially circular blank of sheet material which is formed of thermoplastic material, a spider having radially extending arms including means for supporting said spider, said spider being arranged with heating means in the arms thereof to provide radially extending lines along which a pair of superimposed blanks are cemented together, means for indexing said spider and said first named support relative to each other to provide radially extending lines along which a third such blank superimposed on the second blank is cemented to the second blank by the heating means of said arms, means for moving said spider and said support relative to each other whereby said spider comes into contact with said blanks for cementing thereof.

18. Apparatus of the class described for making a multi-pocket container for comestibles or the like comprising a support for a substantially circular blank of sheet material which is formed of thermoplastic material, a spider having radially extending arms including means for supporting said spider, said spider being arranged with heating means in the arms thereof to provide radially extending lines along which a pair of superimposed blanks are cemented together, and means for indexing said spider and said first named support relative to each other to provide radially extending lines along which a third such blank superimposed on the second blank is cemented to the Second blank by the heating means of said arms.

No references cited. 

